Stigmatisation against pregnant teenagers said to be a threat

Dr. Derrick Darko, a Medical Officer at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH), has revealed that young expectant mothers often avoid going to hospitals for check-ups to avoid stares because of the societal stigma. 

While teenage pregnancies are socially stigmatised, there is less of a chance that a teenager would develop hypertension before or after becoming pregnant, the IMaH Medical Officer emphasised.

Dr. Darko said because most parents did not support teenage pregnancies, “teenagers who believe they cannot tell their parents that they are pregnant and who feel frightened and alone may be at risk of complications.”.

He added that because adolescents were less likely to visit the hospital for their routine prenatal examinations, it was crucial to assist them in receiving the antenatal care and emotional support they required to maintain their health during the most vulnerable stages of their lives.

Dr. Darko stated at the weekly “Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility,” A Tema Ghana News Agency,” initiative aimed at promoting communication on health-related topics and setting the medium for the propagation of health information to influence personal health choices by improving health literacy.

Speaking on the topic “Hypertension in Pregnancy,” the IMaH Medical Officer also disclosed that women who were 35 years of age or older and were expecting their first child were also at risk for developing hypertension. 

According to Dr. Darko, high blood pressure had become more widespread, but with proper blood pressure management, a woman and her unborn child had higher chance of remaining healthy.

Dr. Darko also stated that if a pregnant woman’s body experienced a surge in hormones under extremely stressful circumstances, this could cause the heart to beat more quickly and narrow the blood vessels, which could even result in a heart attack.

To prevent the accumulation of stress in pregnant women and its consequences, he therefore made an appeal to their friends and family to foster a sense of community around them by providing the necessary support.

According to Dr. Darko, having high blood pressure during pregnancy increased the risk of having preterm infants who were typically underweight, pregnancy complications, heart attacks, and maternal and neonatal mortality.

Source: GNA

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